PEP Talks - A Parent Education Program
Parenting is tough, but PEP Talks is here to make it a little easier. Join Arlington Community Schools as we seek expert advice to examine issues facing school-aged children today, from anxiety and depression, bullying and social media to everything between. Want us to explore certain topics? Email us at peptalks@acsk-12.org.
Our Hosts:
Ja'Neair Johnson is a Social & Transition Specialist for high-school aged students in ACS. She has served as a mental health professional for more than 20 years and holds a Masters of Social Work and is a licensed school social worker.
Tyler Hill is the Director of Communications & Planning for ACS. As a former award-winning journalist, Tyler’s passion was rooted in storytelling that spoke to the heart, and he has carried that same mentality to School PR. He serves as the PEP Talks producer and sound engineer, with occasional hosting duties.
Episodes
26 episodes
Day One: A high schooler’s story of addiction and recovery
Caleb’s story isn’t polished, and that’s exactly why it matters. As a high school freshman, he started vaping to fit in. What began as a way to feel cool quickly spiraled into substance abuse he couldn’t control. But this episode isn’t about ro...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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24:41
Gentle Parenting - Weak or Strategic?
Gentle parenting has taken over social media — and the opinions are loud. Is it the downfall of discipline, or a modern, thoughtful way to raise emotionally healthy kids? In this episode, we unpack the real why behind the tren...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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36:16
Go First: Grief, Loss & the Courage to Keep Going
Grief is a journey no one wants to take, yet it’s one we will all face. In this Go First episode, middle school teacher and coach Jennifer Beasley shares her deeply personal story of loss, resilience and healing. From the sudden passin...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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33:26
Parenting Under Pressure: Finding Balance and Letting Go of Guilt
Parenting is one of the most rewarding yet challenging roles we take on, sometimes leaving us overwhelmed and stressed. In this episode of Pep Talks, we dive into the reality of parenting stress, recently declared an urgent public heal...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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30:31
Parenting Through High School: Lessons on Balance, Independence & Life's Hardest Tests
In this episode of PEP Talks, we sit down with Steven Richardson, an Arlington parent of a 2024 graduate, to explore the challenges and rewards of guiding a teenager through high school. From balancing academics and extracurriculars to fosterin...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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30:15
Surviving Middle School: Tips for Managing Academic, Social & Emotional Changes
In this episode of PEP Talks, Erin & Ja'Neair are joined by special guest, parent and PTA guru Katy Bennett to discuss one of the biggest transitions in a child’s life: middle school. From navigating new academic challenges to managing the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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28:36
Navigating Transitions: From Kindergarten Jitters to 5th Grade Confidence
PEP Talks returns for Season 2!In our first episode this school year, hosts Ja’Neair Johnson and Erin Williams sit down with Dayle Sutphin, an Arlington parent of both a kindergartner and a fifth-grader, to discuss the challenges and joy...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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25:02
A Year in Review: PEP Talks Season 1 in the Books!
Join Erin and Ja'Neair for the season finale of PEP Talks as they journey through some of the most memorable moments of our first season. They revisit some of the most impactful and deeply resonant conversations that truly highlight the essence...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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21:16
Beyond the Bell: A Retiring Principal's Reflections on Mental Health in Education
Join us for an enlightening conversation on PEP Talks, where Ms. Tabetha Banks, a soon-to-be-retired administrator and educator with 31 years of invaluable experience, shares her wealth of knowledge and compassionate approach towards supporting...
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41:23
Preventing Child Abuse: A Community-Wide Approach
Warning: This episode discusses child abuse and child sexual assault. In a shocking statistic, Shelby County, Tennessee doubles the national average in child abuse reports, with nearly two out of 10 children becoming a victim of ch...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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32:06
Emotional Intelligence: The G.O.A.T. Skill
Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to monitor our own and other’s feelings and emotions and use that information to guide our thinking and action. EQ helps us express our emotions, develop and maintain relationships, cope with challe...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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13:17
Making Connections with Liz Brock
This week on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair speak with a local mother and community advocate for connectedness, Liz Brock. Liz shares about her desire through her faith convictions to connect with other women in the community and how it led her t...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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36:32
Go First: Navigating Adoption with Ja’Neair Johnson
This week on the PEP Talks Podcast, our Go First series returns with our very own Ja'Neair Johnson, who shares her personal journey with adoption. Ja’Neair discusses her childhood experience, when she found out she was adopted, navigating...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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19:28
Decoding Therapy with Misty Smith, a Licensed Professional Counselor
This week on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair meet with a licensed professional counselor to gain insights on trends within mental health. Misty Smith, NCC, LPC-MHSP, has been counseling families since 2007, using an integrated, holistic approach s...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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33:53
The Puppetry of Self Control with Dr. Marvin & Merv
On this episode of the PEP Talks Podcast, Ja’Neair and Erin welcome Dr. Carren Marvin and her lovable puppet, Merv, to talk all things Self-Control. Parents with elementary students may want to turn this episode on with their kiddos as Merv str...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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41:49
Mission 2024: Setting Boundaries in the New Year
Welcome back PEP Talkers! Erin and Ja’Neair ring in the new year with a conversation with Erica Peyton about setting boundaries. Erica Peyton, Arlington High School Counselor and advisor for the Arlington High Collegiate Academy, c...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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33:21
Six Strategies for Making Tough Choices
Making tough choices is hard. Sometimes parents are unsure about where to start in helping their student with tough choices. You aren't alone, parent! In this episode of PEP Talks, Ja’Neair and Erin discuss where to begin with supporting studen...
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12:30
Go First: Lifelong Anxiety from Erin Williams' Perspective
PEP Talks brings you a new series where guests "Go First" in talking about their own experiences with an adversity or mental health challenge. In our inaugural Go First episode, PEP Talks co-host Erin Williams describes her experience wit...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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25:50
Insights on ADHD from a Professional and Mom
Erin and Ja’Neair speak with an expert on Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Temetric Reeves, owner of Accent ADHD Services, LLC, discusses all things ADHD and gives insight and wisdom from her personal experience as a mother and fr...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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39:49
Let’s Get Physical: Using Exercise to Combat Mental Health Issues
In this conversation, Dana Viox, RN,BSN, Coordinated School Health & Nursing Supervisor with Arlington Community Schools, discusses how physical activity plays a role in child health. Erin and Ja’Neair talk with Dana about unstructured play...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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22:52
The Social Media Brain Drain Part II
In today's episode, Ja'Neair is joined by co-host Tyler Hill, ACS Director of Communications, as they continue exploring The Social Media Brain Drain. What is it, and how should we think about social media use in today's digital world?T...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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38:49
The Social Media Brain Drain Part I
In today's episode, Ja'Neair is joined by co-host Tyler Hill, ACS Director of Communications, who is filling in for Erin. The Social Media Brain Drain: What is it? What's the impact of social media on our teens, and what can we do about it to e...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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32:47
Using Coping Skills for Those Big Feeling Moments
Today on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair chat about an important tool for managing big feeling moments; coping skills. They discuss how each coping skill needs to fit the situation and the child. As they discuss their favorite coping skills to tea...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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21:00
Navigating Grief with a Child Life Specialist
In this PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair interview Kayla White, MA, CCLS II, about grief and loss. As a Certified Child Life Specialist with Methodist Lebonheur Hospital, Kayla describes loss from a unique perspective as she supports children and f...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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26:34
Six Phrases to Connect with Your Child or Teen
In this PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair discuss six prompts, recommended by Kind Minds Therapy, you can use to connect with your children and teens in hard moments. They talk about the importance of allowing children the freedom to express f...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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14:45